You Can Write It

Wilma’s Writing Instructor:

“A Writer has to keep putting in the
time. Writing can be a very lonely business sometimes. A teacher can
help, but in the end, it has to be the writer who does the work.”

Wilma Wall:
“Each rejection is a set back. I always go into a little depression, but as I said before, I’m stubborn, and I try again.”

Key points:
Cure for writer’s block – go ahead and write a rotten draft. You’ll enjoy polishing it later.
Your love of writing should overpower the disappointment of rejections.
If you’re a fiction writer, fall in love with your characters and be them.

How long are you willing to wait before you see the fruits of your writing efforts?

5, 10 or 15 years?

What about 28 years?

That was how long Wilma Wall waited before publishing her first book in 2004 at age 81.

Her
writing journey started when she was 53 years old, when night after
night she toiled away, honing her craft, while battling self-doubt and
false hopes.

Although she was an avid reader, it was not until she visited the country of her birth, China,, that she was impelled to write.

Late Starter
She started writing novels at the age of 55 drawing from her rich treasure-trove of experience.

Her prior writing experience was only limited to writing stories for skits, pageants and puppet shows.

To tackle a novel she took writing classes where she learned how to accept her instructor’s criticism of her work.

In an interview with the novelrocket.com, she says, “My workshop teacher tells us
not to expect an early draft to be perfect. To avoid writer’s block,
she says, “Give yourself permission to write rotten”; it can always be
polished later. Other writing advice she gives us is to live in the
moment, and to BE our characters.”

Perseverance Key to Success
Her instructor attributed her writing success to her willingness to revise her work and her unrelenting perseverance.

He
also said that although Wilma took classes to hone her craft, it was
her willingness to toil away on her own that was the main contributor of
her success.

Wilma also learnt that although a teacher could
help a beginning writer, a writer has to show up daily to put down
words and it is he who has to do the work.

Wilma’s first effort
was The Jade Bracelet. It was, however, her second published work.
Although she was already a published writer, she had to revise it four
times before it saw the light of the day. What You Can Learn From Her Experience
Wilma is a shining example to those who are passionate about writing but can’t seem to find the strength to continue.

The important thing we learn from her experience is it’s never too late to start despite all the disappointments.

It took her years to find her story and voice and she finally succeeded in realising her dream to be a published writer.

If you follow her example and set up your mind to write without instant gratification you, too, can taste writing success.